There is absolutely no room for error on that snare drum! That thing is tight, and those snares are taunt! Be like a guitar player playing straight out of an amp with no distortion, pedals, etc.that snare is as clean as you can make it. Buddy's hands were so well matched, you can't tell if he was a true righty or lefty. Scary GOOD!!

Best drummer ever

Most comments about Buddy are in regard to his speed, which few can match, but he is also a master of rudiments and rhythmic patterns around the set, especially in this solo. I have not seen any drummer put together rhythmic combinations quite like buddy, and that is what keeps his solos so interesting, never boring.

Buddy was the most intense, precision, and absolutely beyond-human drummer EVER.

I've seen many, many of his solos , seen him plenty of times live .... and this might be the best solo I've seen of his ... IF there is one best of his. That snare drum was tuned and miked to allow every stroke to be heard clearly and like was mentioned, allowed no room at all for mistakes. Who else could have pulled this solo off , going that long and to perfection but Buddy Rich ? First time I saw him live was 1968 ... and here it is 2023 and he still leaves me numb and speechless watching him play on video 55 years later !

Buddy's single stroke roll with just his left hand is incredible and the guy's wearing a suit doing it like a true boss

GOD BROKE THE MOLD WHEN HE MADE BUDDY: THE HAND SPEED AROUND THE DRUMKIT IS SECOND TO NONE!!! RIP BUDDY ❤

Buddy Rich just flows like water. The Bruce Lee of drummers 💧 . He seamlessly goes from one set of beats /rhythms without any mistakes. The Goat.🐐

Truly the greatest drummer ever. It is obvious to the members of the band how great he was when even they turn to watch him play.

Believe it or not, I still have a hard time getting my mind around the time in Scranton PA. at the Weldwood Lounge in 1969, I saw Buddy do a small solo and a single tap roll with two cigarettes..Nobody but nobody ever played like him...I was considered very good by piers but when I met Buddy I knew my place and was respectful and he gave me some tips..I visit his grave to this day when I'm in west L.A. RIP

THE greatest drummer to ever walk planet earth...Bernard "Buddy" Rich. BAR NONE!!!

As far as I’m concerned, this is the best drum solo I’ve ever heard. Buddy is in complete control of the solo. He shows speed, dynamics, creativity, flawless technique. And, I’m no Buddy Rich fanboy. I prefer to listen to Grady Tate, Mickey Roker, Idris Muhammad , Elvin, Art Taylor, Philly Joe. But, in my honest opinion, Buddy Rich was truly the master of the instrument. Thanks for posting this incredible video.

This amazing musician broke the mold. THE BEST drummer that ever lived by far. I saw.hum one time in livionia mich.i was 10 years old. I still remember it to this day. I'm 73 years young.

No one will EVER beat Buddy Rich's improvisational skills, speed or dynamics. This is a once in a lifetime experience. Buddy Rich, the percussion expert.

Only a Buddy Solo could keep the entire audience in a trance for 10 straight minutes.

Truly the goat. No denying. Unbelievable talent. RIP.

most folks' amazement stops at his speed.... the control of the dynamics of the volume of each stroke is astounding ... beyond the speed

His hand style is so fantastic, fast and clean. He was the best drummer worldwide.

Had the privilege to see Buddy Rich in concert in the 70's I was totally bolded over with his intricate, innovative & unique skill of unheard of drumming.Wowwwww

when I saw this machine buddy rich in 1981 it was like watching 5 drummers playing at the same time Awesome!!!

Never heard anything like this, his drumming is physically exciting...

His speed and accuracy has no words to describe, the GOAT of all time.

This man was from outer space. There were drummers and then there was Rich. Unbelievable speed and accuracy.

This drum solo is an absolute journey never knowing what's around the next corner; every one anticipated with bated breath! Buddy Rich you rock!

When you forget to breathe for eleven minutes

Like Jojo said, every solo was on the edge, life or death, with Buddy...

Human virtue of art at finest. Finding perfect balance of the rhythm. Rhythm of life. Buddy Rich found it, kept it, share it. Almost godlike mode, - all his solos.

I started playing drums at 15 years old and now I'm almost 70 years old and I still play the drums.. I use a very "fast double kick pedal" it's great to have one makes a world of difference But Mr Buddy Rich this guy is a true legend when it comes to playing the drums his drum solos are truly amazing spot on never makes any mistakes.. I'm not really into the Big Band Music I'm still playing rock and roll but you can learn a lot just for watching his drum solos..RIP..Buddy Rich...🥁👏👏👏🥁

When you think about drums, there's Buddy Rich. And rightly so. For those of us that can appreciate the drums, this guy is from another planet.

It sounds like a rainstorm. His dynamic range is simply mesmerizing.

Incredible even by Mr Rich’s standards. One of his best solos in my opinion.

10 minutes sheer perfection of timing, precision, technique and speed. None better.

Holy Christmas that left hand was smokin'! Everybody that ever saw Buddy live should get on their knees and Thank God for it, cause yeah we've got these videos and they are great, but every time I saw the man play live I was inspired to move mountains...yeah, he had that effect on me!

If you ever wonder who (is-was) the most proficient, most excellent, most rhythmic, most talented, most pizzazzy instinctual drummer of this century. Here He is. Buddy Rich.

Unsurpassable speed, control, power, dynamics, drive, perfection, showmanship, musicianship, charisma = Buddy!

I got to see him three times between 1972 and 1977. Totally amazing.

He might've been a scary egomaniac, but he shredded. That snare was tight. He was a magician.

The Apprentice takes the easy and makes it look difficult while the Master takes the impossible and makes it look easy! Neil Peart regarding Buddy Rich RIP BUDDY AND PROFESSOR!

You look at guys like Peart, who had massive drum kits (even two drum kits on stage), and he couldn't really fail to be brilliant. And he WAS! But look what Buddy has got to work with here. Phenomenal!!

Authority in Drumming. Hats Off to Buddy Rich...🥁

This is bar none the most incredible percussionist in the Universe. His attack and accuracy on even the whispers of tones, the excitement and thrill he could breathe into a cymbal, let alone a drum. Of course then there is his snare drum. Nobody will ever touch this.

Met him 4 times on his uk tours. Always a smile a joke and some good advice. Was a tough band master from a time where being hardcore was the norm. RIP BUDDY x

and you wonder why he is the best drummer in the world. he always has been and always will be...

It is such a privilege to watch this man play the drums.

Buddy, unlike others before and after him, saw things other drummer did not see. He saw “a cymbal” as a huge instrument within itself. It had tiny keys all over it, with their own unique sound. Same for each drum and rim. His hands and technical skills were without equal, but I think his greatest talent was his ability to play the zones of everything in front of him. Like him or not, you can’t deny his skill and passion.

His stamina along is a miracle...he doesn't stop. I've never, and will never see anything else like it.

Absolutely phenomenal the stick control is simply brilliant, i know the likes of Neil and John (RIP chaps) were phenomenal too in their own right but Buddy was in a league of his own.

He was A legend even to this day 2020 some of his beats still cannot be matched at One time for over 15 year he was the world’s greatest drummer. He is gone now he’s a legend that that will last throughout all time.

I’ve just finished watching this clip and my ears are ringing what a fantastic musician he was

The King of all Drummers

Unusual camera angles on this one! The most amazing feature of his playing for me has always been the number of compelling "phonemes" he can generate on the spot to engage the ear. His soloing is so RICH!

Awesome drummer. Best of all time.

Kinda neat in this solo, too, is how Buddy introduces several items from his "usual bag of tricks" -- the decelerations and accelerations, the delicate inside-the-drum-rim stuff, the swinging press roll, etc -- but changes them up in creative ways, almost like a spontaneous experiment in breaking his own habits. When you think that most drummers would sell their souls to play a tenth of these things his usual way, it's all the more humbling to see him breaking them up like cliches he's tired of hearing. This man was way, way above it.

So much finesse, even strokes, super-speed, inventiveness, originality, etc. There aren't enough words for this man. He forgot more than most drummers will ever learn. There will never be another BR.

Left hand is stunning. Everything was effortless

This is just one of my favorite videos on KZfaq. Insane precision and timing, without question.

He was very fast... yet had extremely well developed precision, and economy of movement. His drumming was never muddy sounding, even as close together as his beats were... His timing was always flawlessly impeccable.

Best drummer ever!!!

Wow! What a breathtaking performance, I actually stopped breathing.

Buddy was a beautiful freak of nature that set a bar so high it took decades for anyone else to come near.

... while wearing a tie and blazer...

Another astounding display of creativity, skill, concentration, stamina, coordination, musicality, and flawless execution by the master. He did things on a nightly basis that can never be duplicated. Pure spontaneity and inspiration.

And he does it all in a suit and tie!!

Saw him live in 79 ,blew me away ,I was 19 ,sold my drumkit within 2 weeks and got a new one thirty years later

Those snare to floor tom moves at around the 6:05 mark are just astounding. And the whip-cream rolls are the best I've ever heard. He set the bar so high. I've been playing almost 50 years and cannot touch some of the things Buddy did. Just incredible.

Buddy was one the fastest and most technical drummers ever. Unsurpassed talent !!

Growing up in the 70's and 80's, I remember telling my dad about Neil Peart and how great he was and one of the best, his reply, was, "Oh? listen to this..." He took me to see the Buddy Rich band back in in the late 70's. I was in awe.

The best drummer of all time☺

What great audio. Of course, no one can come close to Buddy on his solos.

i dig the director....the most insightfull video on Buddys grip...very top performance as always

takes your breath away~ his frenetic tapping on the rims and edges along with his supreme control of volume and intensity are so hypnotic you feel like he is picking your sonic Lock - dialing in so many intricate combinations of complex rhythms, colors and nuances. This is the kind of music that can actually transform your DNA in my sonic opinion

The most amazing drum solo.

THE BEST IN THE WORLD BUDDY RICH ...................

One of the best solos from Buddy on film, ever. Excellent sound too....

My dad and my brother were both drummers and when I was 5 or 6 my dad had buddy rich and gene Krupa on the old reel tapes and I started listening to them and I had a great education in playing drums and I still play but buddy was the best drummer in his generation. He paved the way for other drummers that came after him.

I wish I could do ANYTHING in my life half as well as Buddy Rich could play the drums. True Masters make whatever craft they have perfected look easy.

Every time I watch one of his gigs, I get tired all over... I've been playing drums for well over 50 years and grew up watching him. Less than a year after I started playing, I knew I had less than a zero chance of even getting close to that. Now, I know it's not about trying to match him, it's just about doing what you do as best as you can personally do it. I'm 64 and I still practice 2 hours every day (though it's on an e-kit so the neighbors stay 'neighborly). My hands don't work like they did when I was 30 but I think I'm better overall than I was back then. Still, after I watch one of his solos, I need to wait a few hours before I even think about picking up a pair of sticks. Rich

Budddy was so above every other drummer!! He could swing a band like nobody's business! Then.....his epic drum solos every night were a showcase of talent, technique, musicalty adn everything tha goe s with those!!! The best ever!!! No one has become his equal......yet.

My dad was his biggest fan and I totally understand why my dad was so amazed by his drumming skills "!! Buddy was just amazing "!!! The best of the best drummer's ever known "!!!!! God bless you all today Shalom

Loved the flams! He was the best. Without question.

Not too many drummers can make a drum solo mystifying. Thanks Buddy, for carrying the torch for us & for the inspiration.

The master. End of discussion.

I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Mr. Rich twice live at Disneyland in LA, sitting on the floor not 25 feet away! Extraordinary! But this is truly breathtaking! And kudos to the camera work. At one point you can even see the sweat dripping from Buddy’s nose. I’m not a drummer, so I can only imagine the endurance, strength and concentration necessary to accomplish something like this performance! Hell, who needs an orchestra? Ultimately all I can say is a heartfelt HOLY SHIT, and thank God for video!

Talent, motivation, rhythm, creativity, sense of timing.....Buddy had all of these and knew how to put them all together. That's why I consider him as being the all-time greatest drummer who ever lived. I have been drumming off and on for 70 years.

This is by far the most expressive Buddy Rich solo ive ever seen. And seen and heard a truck load. Conceptually he is incredibly advanced and his approach to melody is uncanny. He plays and develops themes in his solo as dramatic as occurs in the music. In this case , the poly rhythmic West Side Story. This is an open solo and if one sings what Buddy plays theyll realize the depth of Buddy's conception and supremely musical prowess. I do think that the listener can be completely absorbed listening to this. I know 'Iam . I also know that people forget as in latin music . The drums are also featured as other soloists are. In the singer song writer or trubadour tradtion from from folk to pop , this type of approach, from a once American popular music, strikes as different as sweet from sour. Since in those cases the drums are strictly accompaniment . Jazz the truth is a uniquely American art form and the drumset . Created here in this country. Lets listen and be swept away by the great plot lines and master work as grand as any other classical music. For me and for millions of fans worldwide over his 50 yr pro history across generation , Buddy's statements are only sweet .

Saw Buddy twice in the 1970's. Superb!!

Those of us who got to experience this freak of nature live and up close- as I did several times - will never stop being amazed and inspired by the breadth and artistry of his ability. R.I.P champ ! Thanks for posting this excellent example of it.

Never seen this solo before... i have been watching a lot of drummers lately and thinking "wow" that was brilliant or the best, but this puts it all back in perspective, there are amazing , absolutely brilliant drummers and then there is Buddy Rich, the GOAT!!

Gosh he was spectacular, and that's a massive understatement.

3:06 - Jesus Christ! He's playing those lightning speed triplets WITH ONE HAND! I give up!

Speechless !!! Increasable , masterfully , painless , feeling , countless !!!!!!!! Amazing 🖖

I think he is the greatest that’s ever lived. There are so many great drummers. I just think that he has so many techniques he employs and he makes the drums sing. It like intense improvisation. No other drummer is on this level imho.

The best of the best. A serious badass in every way. Totally dominates Jazz drummimg

Never heard this fella before in my life but now I want some drums. The highest level of musicality and technique 😨

Amazing..Astounding ...back in 1973 I sat 6 feet away from him, front row at the Sydney jazz club. The most jaw dropping experience of my drumming life, the set lasted an hour or so, He was fill on , sweating and growling. I feel incredibly privlaged , I was 20yrs old. I'm still mesmerized!

3.39 - 3.42 is a thing of beauty

This is one of the most creative solos I have seen Buddy perform live!! Awesome stick work. Buddy was such a phenomenal rudimentary player as well as intensely musical at the same token.

Always learn so much watching Buddy the master play. However, Philly Joe Jones is one of my favorites when it comes to solos and snare technique. Wish there were more videos of him on KZfaq.

Masterful and effortless at the same time

Behold, the beautiful Drumming bewitchery of Buddy Rich , at play with his own riffs.Stunning.